Review: Wines of McGah Family Cellars, 2013 Releases

Did you know: The founders of the Oakland Raiders now have a wine label? McGah Family Cellars is the winemaking arm of the McGahs, which owned the Raiders from the founding in 1960 to 2005. Now they make wine using fruit from their own 65-acre Rutherford vineyard in addition to selling it to other wineries.

Don’t go looking for “McGah” on the label. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue and it’s relegated to the fine print on the back. Instead, you’ll find the company’s wines released under the below brand names. Thoughts follow.

2011 Ten Seventy Green Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford Napa Valley – Impressive acid, but the grapefruit notes on this traditional Sauv Blanc are balanced with lemon and blood orange character. The finish is crisp and clean, with a slight and pleasant sweetness to it that adds mystery. A- / $20

2010 Scarlett Cabernet Sauvignon – Young and drinking today as relatively unripe. The nose is green and driven more by menthol notes than fruit. The body offers similar notes, revealing a simple and youthful wine that needs time to mature. Aeration helps to coax out some of the muted blackberry and plum notes, but barrel toast, tar, and that menthol character end up stealing the show. Needs time. B / $60